A top-of-the-table clash was dominated by a lock-out for away fans, on the park served as a reminder of how our game should be perceived in Scotland irrespective of what gender you are. 

The congregation of Celtic supporters were locked out of Ibrox in front of a 4,022 crowd for this pulsating Glasgow derby, the vast majority of the away supporters have every right to feel exonerated of the decision and have a sense of reprehension. 

Only friends of family of the players were allowed entry who cut a quiet bunch until Kathy Hill gave away a throw-in which forced a large cheer for the 30-40 spectators in the main stand. 

Of course, you don’t want the women’s game brushed with the same brush as certain elements of the men’s however football in Scotland should be accessible to all and the statement released by Rangers on Saturday was always going to set off our adored fans regardless of background. 

What a way it would have been for Jane Ross to facilitate her return from injury with the opener, the prolific striker dragging her effort just wide but it was a sign of the constant pressure the hosts were going to put on the visitors. 

Jo Potter’s outfit needed a reaction from their 0-0 draw at Partick Thistle, the tussle with Brian Graham’s side indicated their stature in the top flight of SWPL1 – a dress rehearsal for the upcoming Sky Sports cup final at Tynecastle next month. 

Rio Hardy returned to the starting line-up with the current league leaders playing with two up-front and a follow-up strike went high over Kelsey Daugherty’s goal after an initial hit from Ross. 

A push beside the dug-out from Caitlin Hayes on 21 minutes created a bit of fire that was vastly required and showed their resolute approach as they faced up to one-way traffic that descended the opening exchanges of the match. 

The last time an important battle in Govan took place for the female contingent was that title decider last season, the encounter failed to live up to its proposed billing on an entertainment scale. 

Apart from a few forays into the visiting box early on, it was plenty of the ball but nothing productive 

Natasha Flint was a big player in her time in the East End of Glasgow last term and just 30 seconds after the restart, she gave Elena Sadiku’s side the opener, Kit Loferski intercepted from Nicola Docherty before playing a quick pass to Amy Gallagher who subsequently played Natasha Flint who sweetly tucked it beyond the stranded Jenna Fife into the net. 

The opener forced Rangers’s hand a little but home boss Potter remained calm. 

The on-loan Liverpool striker almost made it two just before the hour mark, getting on the end of a Menglu Shen ball but a driven effort just flew wide. 

Both sides started to ring the subs and Jo Potter earned her rewards as Rangers equalised through Mia McAulay on 69 minutes, a long ball found Rachel Rowe who had all the space 25 yards from goal to pick out the 17-year-old who fired beyond Daughterty. 

In all honesty, the game needed an elusive goal to really set the tempo on this derby – it set the fire alight after the goal with both teams really going for it after, overall a draw the right result in what was must not lose for the home side. 

After witnessing everything there is to encounter about women’s football across 90 minutes, I hope the whole fan fiasco that frustrates that becomes a tit for tat frenzy in the men’s game doesn’t eclipse itself into the women’s game either – we have a good product, fans of all colours, societies and backgrounds must get to enjoy what women’s football is all about. 

It’s ultimately a family day out and not giving access to those that want to see our game in a different complexion all together has to be a necessity for us all. 

Once again, we have an exciting title race on our hands that’s likely to go down to the wire, it must be glorified in the best way possible and with as much fans as possible to grow the game.